Figure 1-42.Starting measurement for interior wall.marked for the first stud to be placed 15 1/4 inches fromthe outside edge of the panel thickness on the first wall.This layout allows the corner of the first panel on thesecond wall to lineup with the edge of the first panel onthe second wall. Also, the opposite edge of the panel onthe second wall will break on the center of a stud.A procedure for laying out studs for interior walls(partitions) is shown in figure 1-42. If panels are placedon the exterior wall first, the wall plates for the interiorwall are marked for the first stud to be placed 15 1/4inches from the edge of the panel thickness on theexterior wall. If panels are to be placed on the interiorwall, the wall plates of the interior wall are marked forthe first stud to be placed 15 1/4 inches from theunpaneled exterior wall.If drywall or other interior finish panels are to benailed to an adjoining wall (fig. 1-42, view A), you mustmeasure 15 1/4 inches plus the thickness of the material.When panels are to be nailed on a wall first (view B),measure and mark the 15 1/4 inches from the frontsurface of the bottom plate. These procedures ensurestud alignment remains accurate throughout the nailingprocess.Rough openings for doors and windows must alsobe marked on the wall plates. The rough openingdimensions for a window (fig, 1-43, view A) or wooddoor (view B) are calculated based on the window ordoor width, the thickness of the finish frame, and1/2-inch clearance for shim materials at the sides of theframe. Some blueprint door and window schedules givethe rough opening dimensions, simplifying the layout.A rough opening for a metal window often requiresa 1/2-inch clearance around the entire frame. When themeasurements are not given in the window schedule,take them from the manufacturers installationinstructions supplied with the windows.A completely laid out bottom plate includesmarkings for corner posts, rough openings, studs, andcripples. The corner posts are laid out first. Next, the16-inch marks for the studs and cripples are marked, andthen the marks for the rough openings are made.Some Builders prefer to layout the rough openingsbefore the studs and cripples are marked. There is,however, an advantage to laying out the 16-inch OCmarks first. Studs and trimmers framing a door andwindow often fall very close to a 16-inch OC stud markSlightly shifting the position of the rough opening mayeliminate an unnecessary stud from the wall frame.Vertical LayoutVertical layout is the procedure for calculating thelengths of the different vertical members of awood-framed wall. This makes it possible to precut allstuds, trimmers, and cripples required for a building.Some blueprints contain section views giving theexact rough heights of walls. The rough height is thedistance from the subfloor to the bottom of the ceiling1-24